Competition camshaft upgrade

[amillstream]

Got a HO 01 6spd, DD2's, edge comp. What would a camshaft upgrade do for me and whats a cam cost, not counting labor? Is it worth it? I'm not into competition drag racing or truck pulling. Just kind of looking for a little better spool up and egt reduction. Will a cam do much good for this? I use this truck for farm use pulling sometimes very heavy loads, but turn the comp up for play. Still have a stock hx-35, and thinking about a bigger turbo. Also worried about my head gasket and looking for a cheap way to help prevent that from happening also. Mostly wanting to know about cams. Thanks. Any thoughts or comments are appreciated from anyone.

 

[24V-DSL]

Here's two sources....

www.piersdiesel.com



www.dieseldynamics.com

 

[GO 4LO]

Check out



www.enterpriseengine.com

www.scheiddiesel.com

www.haisleymachine.com



as well.



Chris

 

[KLockliear]

Definintely need a turbo with your setup. You're limiting yourself on power and hurting your EGT's with that stock HX-35 with what you have now. Probably around 40hp worth.



Our cam does both of which you ask, plus reduces smoke and usually improves fuel mileage as well. The cam will not necessitate a head gasket change, neither will an HX-40 - the most likely candidate for turbo based on your power. Typically maybe a little laggy with a stock cam, works very well with a cam... almost like a 35 - except for the EGT control.

 

[CumminFast]

I wouldn't waste your money w/ a weak cam. I had a Piers cam and if it were me I would put the money toward twins. Don't get me wrong I think high lift cams are a must for high hp, but they require the pistons to be cut.

 

[cumminspwr01]

Originally posted by CumminFast

I wouldn't waste your money w/ a weak cam. I had a Piers cam and if it were me I would put the money toward twins. Don't get me wrong I think high lift cams are a must for high hp, but they require the pistons to be cut.

Why do you call it a weak cam? I ask because I have been on the fence for a while about buying a cam for my truck and the reason is because a lot of people have said that they have noticed almost no difference with the cam Almost the same amount of people say they love the aftermarket cam(s). The Piers cam is not a high lift cam? Does anybody have a cam thats worth the money and doesn't require fly cutting the pistons? I'm still stuck on the fence. If cutting the pistons is the only way to get a cam that is worth while I will probably never get one. JMO

 

[CumminFast]

Well we have doing alot of research w/ marine cams, and we just think the stock is better. By research I mean hours and hours on the dyno. I mean if you can't do it yourself, there is no way in hell I would do a marine/piers/dd camshaft. I mean I don't have anything against Piers or DD, but just save the money and buy a stupid pump or twins. You WILL see hp and drastic variations in EGTs. When spend money I want to feel it, and the only way you will ever feel a cam is flycutting your pistons.

 

[BPonci]

My PDR cam works great for me. Quicker spool up and lower egts.

 

[KatDiesel]

DD cam makes a difference in my truck... ... ... ... is it for everyone? No of course not, do I regret buying it? No not at all. Its not going to "wow" you like adding a box, or slapping in 100hp injectors, but you should notice quicker spool.

 

[amillstream]

KatDiesel, how much cooler did it make you run? Could you even tell a difference in egts?

 

[Bob Wagner]

A friend of mine that works at a performance diesel shop wanted to drive my truck after swapping ecms.



His comment was the ecm made the truck perform like a cam swap.



And his friend just installed an aftermarket cam in his truck.



FWIW

 

[amillstream]

Originally posted by Bob Wagner

A friend of mine that works at a performance diesel shop wanted to drive my truck after swapping ecms.



His comment was the ecm made the truck perform like a cam swap.



And his friend just installed an aftermarket cam in his truck.



FWIW

Ok Bob, I've got the ecm on the way, what will a cam do and a ecm?

 

[KLockliear]

Originally posted by CumminFast

Well we have doing alot of research w/ marine cams, and we just think the stock is better.

You are on the right track. The stock marine cam grind sucks for our application.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Chris Strickland put a '370 Diamond B' marine cam in his truck about 2 years ago and HATED it...



Matt

 

[KatDiesel]

Originally posted by HoleshotHolset

Chris Strickland put a '370 Diamond B' marine cam in his truck about 2 years ago and HATED it...



Matt

Also worth noting I believe it was the marine grind as well, nothing was changed.

 

[KatDiesel]

Originally posted by amillstream

KatDiesel, how much cooler did it make you run? Could you even tell a difference in egts?

Didn't really notice a drop in EGT, because I have always had healthy injectors and "small" turbos. The noticable aspects of it were quicker spool up, and fuel milage increased slighlty.



Keep in mind, I have 4. 10 read end, a very tight TC (93% DTT), and nothing smalle then III's for injectors.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

"Also worth noting I believe it was the marine grind as well, nothing was changed. "



Yup. It was an unmolested OEM grind marine cam...



Matt

 

[DavidTD]

What I believe is that to see a noticable result for a cam change, you need to have cut pistons. You can see small improvememts with the milder grinds, but especially if you are not a "do it yourself'er", for me it will not have a good result to cost ratio.



Jeff has made around 700hp with a stock cam from what I have seen so far. We will be testing this same motor soon with a cam provided by Van Haisley.

 

[Chipstien]

I too had kicked around the idea of getting a cam but have decided that twins would get me what I want and a whole lot more.